How are ingredient suppliers sourcing the most in-demand vitamins?

COVID’s ongoing impact on immune-health vitamins

The American Herbal Products Association (Silver Spring, MD; AHPA) announced Cara Welch, PhD, acting director, office of dietary supplement programs (ODSP) at FDA, will address attendees at the 

, held Monday, May 24, during the opening session. She is expected to share insights into how the Agency re-adjusted its priorities during COVID and its long-term impact on inspections, approvals of structure/function claims, NDI notification and more.

The one-day event, “Botanicals in the time of COVID,” will explore regulatory, supply chain, and other business-related issues directly impacting companies and individuals in the botanical/herbal and dietary supplement industries. Other session topics include “The Current Herbal International Regulatory Environment,” “The Impact of COVID on the North American Traditional Healers,” and business-forward panels designed to offer take-aways for the industry on handling the new normal.

“AHPA’s ninth Botanical Congress follows the most disruptive year in the Association’s almost 40-year history,” said AHPA president Michael McGuffin, in a press release. “Everyone is eager to move beyond the isolation and business disruption of the COVID pandemic, so when our members asked us to focus on what the botanical industry experienced and how as a community, we can learn from and support each other, we created an exceptional event that I trust will help members shape a path forward.”

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The American Herbal Products Association announced Cara Welch, PhD, acting director, office of dietary supplement programs (ODSP) at FDA, will address attendees at the virtual AHPA Botanical Congress, held Monday, May 24, during the opening session.

Cara Welch, acting director of FDA’s ODSP, to open AHPA’s Botanical Congress in May

Verdure Sciences (Noblesville, IN) launched Longvida, a turmeric extract standardized to curcumin and total curcuminoids (solid lipid curcumin particle - SLCP), in Brazil after receiving ANVISA approval through distribution partner Kilyos Nutrition. The ingredient is backed by clinical research, safety, rigorous quality control, sustainability, traceability, and global acceptance.

“We are pleased with the approval of Longvida for food supplementation. Curcumin is an ingredient of proven effectiveness in promoting health and wellness for individuals,” said José João, MD, PhD, director of Kilyos Nutrition, in a press release. “Additionally, offering the Brazilian population the best available source of curcumin makes us very excited about the range of possibilities to be developed.

“We would like to thank our partner Verdure Sciences for the opportunity of including Longvida in our portfolio and for providing us with the full support to obtain the approval of curcumin from ANVISA, for the first time in Brazil, in the food supplementation category. We most certainly will obtain incredibly good results from this partnership!”

Verdure Sciences launched Longvida, a turmeric extract standardized to curcumin and total curcuminoids (solid lipid curcumin particle - SLCP), in Brazil after receiving ANVISA approval through distribution partner Kilyos Nutrition

Verdure Sciences’ turmeric ingredient, Longvida receives ANVISA approval

Robby Gardner is a freelance journalist in Los Angeles, specializing in fresh produce and health food ingredients.

In the many months since COVID-19’s arrival, 

 has reported on countless different impacts that the pandemic has had on the dietary supplement, health food, and beverage industries. Some ingredients have seen decreased demand while others dramatically rose in sales. But to capitalize on increased demand requires partnerships with ingredient suppliers that have longstanding raw material partnerships in place and are nimble enough to react to shortages of raw materials.

Naturally, interest in certain vitamins grew during the last year. This is due to rising concerns relating to COVID-19 and to a flurry of press and social media guiding consumers towards specific vitamins. After a year of living with COVID-19, are supplies of key vitamins still in jeopardy? Well, it may depend on your supplier and the actions being taken.

Immune Growth, But Also General Growth Maybe

Not surprisingly, the global vitamin trade has been hit with supply troubles relating to immune-health vitamins in particular. Vitamins C and D are very much in demand, and the combined issue of increased demand and uncertain supply is reported by many companies. Prinova (Hanover Park, IL), which attests to owning 33% of the total market share for vitamin C in the United States, reports various procurement challenges for vitamin C in particular right now and an increased demand for vitamin D.

While Prinova claims that its supply of other vitamins has not been impacted in the same way, this likely isn’t the case for all suppliers. Lief Labs (Valencia, CA) has had to handle its own procurement issues relating to immune-health vitamins, but COVID-19 is also impacting the company’s business in other vitamins. It’s not alone. In its 2020 Supplement Business Report, 

 reported significant increases in sales last year of multivitamins, melatonin, digestive aids, and other products, all of which can be attributed to COVID-19 concerns in the general public. It’s not shocking, considering that health and wellness spending is often prioritized in times of recession.

In the face of increased demand for immune-health vitamins, ingredient suppliers have had to act strategically in order to meet the needs of existing customers and still have enough left for any new customers that may want to trial products in the marketplace. Rising demand for these ingredients is compounded by congestion at ports, a reduced work force at ports, and longer transit times for container shipments.

Since the onset of COVID-19, when it first started to encounter challenges in procuring immune-health vitamins, Lief Labs decided to bolster its supplier network by adding suppliers from South America, Europe, and other parts of the world to protect its primary supply, which was coming from China. While the company is still seeing supply shortages, Lief Labs says business is much more secure now that it has mitigated this threat to the supply chain.

Like Lief Labs, Prinova relies on China for its vitamin C and D3 ingredients. Prinova reportedly holds very large buffer stocks of vitamins C and D3, which are especially useful now that customers are asking for early shipments of their 2021 contracts due to increased product demand. Meanwhile, Prinova Vice President Steve Watts notes that, in addition to rising freight costs and the longer transit times, the price for Chinese ascorbic acid tripled in January. Another COVID outbreak in China, such as that experienced this February in the city of Shijiazhuang or from Chinese New Year celebrations in February, could make the situation even more precarious.

The uncertainty of vitamin procurement during COVID-19 underscores the importance of working with veteran companies that are capable of adapting to changing global circumstances.

The prospect of global COVID-19 vaccinations and a return to normal life makes us wonder if the immune-health sales boom will soon regress.

Prinova expects continued strong demand for its vitamin C and vitamin D3 in the first half of 2021. “The demand will remain strong, and if we get issues on the supply side then prices could escalate even higher in the April/May 2021 period,” says Watts. “However, we do forecast that as the vaccination programs start to have an impact on the virus in Q2 2021, then this is likely to take some heat out of the demand for immunity products and could lead to a weakening of price in the second half of 2021.” Similarly, Lief Labs is approaching 2021 with the same vigor as last year but will monitor demand for potential demand changes and potentially shifting interests to other products towards the end of the year.

If the COVID-19 pandemic’s taught us anything, it’s that stress and fatigue can always grow. The pandemic caused an enormous spike in stress and exhaustion, mental and physical, in the past year, far and above what we’d typically experience in a normal year.

Many of us are now reevaluating our needs for self-care and support. Many are turning to energy, stress, and sleep aids, making these products even more popular than they were pre-pandemic.

Spoonshot (Minneapolis) is a market intelligence firm that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and “consumer, business, and institutional data” to predict trends and innovation opportunities in foods and beverages. Company cofounder and CEO Kishan Vasani outlines the impact the pandemic’s had, as captured by Spoonshot data.

“In the last year, Spoonshot’s data showed that consumer concerns regarding stress went up by 31% over the last year, driven mainly by the pandemic,” he says. Not only that, “In the U.S., consumer concerns about the quality and quantity of sleep have increased by 40% over the last year and are projected to go up by 12% in the coming year.”

Energy support, stress relief, and sleep aid products now have the opportunity to connect with more customers than ever. To succeed, however, products still need to cater to consumer demands, say the experts interviewed for this story. In the wake of the pandemic, that means appealing to the public’s renewed focus on health. Preferences for cleaner, natural ingredients and better-for-you profiles are likely to be even more prevalent ongoing.

“Consumers want ingredients that work together with the body and not against it,” says Eli Faraggi, cofounder of InnoBev Ltd. For instance, shoppers are now drawn to sophisticated energy drinks imbued with added benefits that previous energy drinks didn’t offer, he says.

“Until recently, 100% energy drinks were one-trick ponies—and that trick was caffeine. Everything else was marketing,” Faraggi says.

But people want more than a blunt instrument. They want nuanced products that support their holistic health needs as well as their needs at various times of day. Older energy drinks couldn’t do this, Faraggi says, and thus may not be what a consumer is looking for today. “With most people working and studying from home,” he says, as an example, “the idea of drinking a product full of synthetic caffeine, with its resulting high heart rate and blood pressure, is not recommended nor productive.”

Today’s consumers want something different. “Consumers are not necessarily looking strictly for caffeine but rather are searching for specialized functional beverages for very specific activities, at different hours of the day, that are scientifically proven and not based on an expensive marketing campaign,” Faraggi adds.

Companies like Faraggi’s firm, InnoBev (Israel), as well as another company interviewed for this article, Mantra Labs (Austin, TX), call themselves chronobiology or “chrono-nutrition” companies because they focus on developing products that support consumers’ changing biological needs throughout the day.

For instance, Faraggi’s company, InnoBev, is a food-tech firm that created a formula called WakeUp BioWaker. WakeUp BioWaker includes extracts of guarana, 

 and elderberry, which together provide slow-released energy plus cognitive and immune support. InnoBev formulated WakeUp BioWaker into its own retail drink, BioLift, which the firm says helps users maintain clarity and improve cognitive function and recall throughout the day. Marketing states that the product helps reduce “brain fog,” which the firm describes as the “post-lunch” dip in function and productivity that can occur during a typical workday afternoon. WakeUp BioWaker and BioLift’s benefit claims are backed by three clinical studies, the firm states.

Over at supplements brand Mantra Labs, CEO and cofounder Paul Janowitz also believes in tracking consumer needs throughout the day.

“We are seeing customers focusing on well-being versus a quick fix or energy burst,” he says. “Customers want to feel good throughout the day 

 night. They are asking for and seeking out products that are good for their mental health as well as physical health. This is moving from ‘energy drinks’ to more functional drinks that support focus, stamina, and recovery.” Mantra’s line of Rise, Go, and Rest supplements are “synergistically timed to match our customers’ nutrition needs throughout the day for hydration, focus, energy and deep recovery, and restful sleep.”

“It is not just dumping 300 mg of caffeine and 10,000% of B

 anymore,” Janowitz continues. “Consumers want to feel good—not jittery—and are looking for clean-label energy alternatives.”

This is why many startup energy drink companies are focusing on product claims like “organic certified,” “contains vitamins,” and “natural,” Spoonshot’s Vasani adds. “Consumers will continue to look for energy-boosting products featuring clean and natural ingredients which also offer other functional benefits such as vitamins for immunity and overall good health,” he predicts.

He sees interest growing in several specific energy ingredients. Curcumin is one. Vasani says studies have shown curcumin helps reduce fatigue and improve memory. He expects demand for curcumin in this space to grow 86% this year.

Ashwagandha is also featured more often nowadays due to its ability to both boost energy and reduce stress. In the U.S., ashwagandha is starting to go mainstream. Interest in ashwagandha has grown 188% since 2016, Vasani observes, per Spoonshot data.

In general, herbs and spices like ginseng will continue gaining popularity in energy products. There is also more demand for electrolytes, which Vasani says allow companies to “position products as offering natural energy and rapid energy, without the caffeine jitters.”

Mantra’s Janowitz also notes the hydration trend: “We are seeing more and more synergy between hydration and functional ingredients. Hydration has blown up as a key tenet of well-being over the last 12 months, so many brands, including ours, are focusing on the core needs of hydration plus functional benefits.”

Sophisticated energy products offering wide-ranging health benefits continue to compete with the energy booster consumers are most used to: coffee. In 2020, consumer interest in coffee outperformed interest in energy drinks, at 28% versus 13%, respectively, Vasani says. Tea is also formidable. “Tea has emerged as a category within the energy space, taking advantage of tea’s overall health halo and, interestingly, promoting a ‘caffeine free’ claim, in addition to ‘organic’ and ‘natural,’” Vasani says. Caffeine-free teas often feature herbal teas and infusions as opposed to black or green tea.

Despite the competition, it’s an exciting time for energy drinks, full of reason to hope and to innovate. The wheels are beginning to turn.

Vasani says, “This category is seeing a bit of a revival after a downturn a few years ago when [energy drinks] came under fire for their high caffeine levels and the harm that they can do to the health of consumers.” If formulators can turn the ship around with healthier, natural products, energy drinks will increasingly go head-to-head with coffee, tea, and the energy drinks of yore.

It’s hard to imagine a time when global levels of stress were higher. “Sleep and stress—or stress then sleep, depending upon the day—became front and center for consumers,” says Mantra Labs’ Janowitz. “We saw a huge need for products that support focus and sleep. This aligns with increased stress, working from home, being a school teacher, and doing it all in the confines of the household.” Lack of sleep not only means that we’re tired and can’t function; it also adversely impacts our health. Says Janowitz: “The data around sleep is clear: If you don’t sleep well, you don’t function well physically or mentally, and your immune system breaks down.”

The pandemic has kept many of us up at night and could have a life-changing impact on the relaxation and sleep products market. As Janowitz observes, “Sleep became a new key health trend and not an afterthought.” He points to growing interest in “sleep hygiene” in general, including for products like blackout window shades and tools to adjust blue light and room temperature to boost sleep quality.

Product makers have leveraged the growing interest in sleep support and relaxation products, taking the opportunity to create some advanced products. “We are seeing more thought being put into an actual formulation—versus an arms race to put as much melatonin in a product as possible,” Janowitz comments.

This requires exploring the ingredient toolbox. Janowitz says Mantra did a lot of research when creating the company’s Rest drink-powder supplement, which contains magnesium, melatonin, GABA (PharmaGABA brand), L-theanine (Suntheanine brand), and herbs to support relaxation and sleep. “We researched for over a year to find what was truly clinically backed, healthy long-term and daily, and that worked synergistically with the body.”

“Consumers are savvy and looking for clinically backed ingredients that support calm and restful sleep,” he adds. “We expect even more science, ingredient innovation, and consumer interest in sleep. We should also expect to see a ton of performance—mental, physical, sports—related research and associated products to come out around sleep and recovery.”

Beverage development expert Imbibe (Niles, IL) sees lots of ingredients coming to the fore.

One can’t talk about relaxation in the supplements space without mentioning the growing presence of cannabidiol (CBD) in relaxation and sleep products. “CBD really takes the cake here, even though there are still murky regulations at the federal level surrounding this non-intoxicating cannabis compound,” says Ilana Orlofsky, senior marketing manager for Imbibe. She adds, “Pabst launched a THC-infused sparkling seltzer in Q4 of 2020, so we’d be remiss not to mention THC as it starts to penetrate more CPG products—though, of course, the pace will likely be slower as there are significant hurdles with selling products across state lines.”

“Other standouts,” she continues, “include L-theanine (which saw 22% growth in global Google searches in 2020), ashwagandha (which saw the same growth in 2020), and magnesium (somewhat popularized by PepsiCo’s launch of Driftwell).”

Mushrooms are also gaining. “Even though medicinal mushrooms are touted for a variety of benefits (cognitive, heart, immune support), different combinations of ingredients support different need states,” Orlofsky says. “The most common mushrooms making their way across beverage categories, including calming products, are reishi, chaga, cordyceps, lion’s mane, and turkey tail.”

Other adaptogens besides ashwagandha and mushrooms are also getting in on the action. “Many others seem to be equal in reception and prevalence,” Orlofsky says. “This includes tulsi/holy basil, 

schisandra, maca, and moringa—though moringa may be starting to gain a bit more traction.”

Spoonshot’s Vasani also sees gains in tulsi/holy basil and 

 “A number of studies have found that tulsi can help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress,” he says. “It is also said to be able to effectively regulate cortisol levels.” Spoonshot data show consumer interest in tulsi growing by 114% since 2016. It’s been most featured in tea products, Vasani says, although usage is also growing in juices.

Of rhodiola, he says, “Pilot studies on rhodiola have found that rhodiola supplementation has the potential to improve mood and energy as well as reduce stress levels.” Rhodiola’s use in the U.S. market is still “limited” and primarily restricted to supplements, he cautions.

One interesting development is a growing interest in guayusa for relaxation products. Guayusa, which contains caffeine and is popular in energy boosters, also contains L-theanine, an amino acid linked to relaxation and calming.

And, in general, Vasani says, popular ingredients for relaxation and sleep—such as magnesium, melatonin, and tryptophan—will continue attracting a wider audience.

Perhaps the biggest difference in the stress and sleep market these days, even above product innovation, is the enhanced ability for brands to connect with consumers. Shoppers are actively seeking these products and more receptive than they have ever been. Companies—especially small, emerging ones—are finding growing consumer audiences online, says Imbibe’s Orlofsky.

“While there certainly has been innovation in products that boast the ability to help manage one’s mood and reduce stress, the biggest recent change has been in the digital marketing strategy and amplification of niche brands,” she explains. “Many have been around for a few years but are simply deemed as more relevant today due to the intensified stress that many of us are experiencing.”

Sleep and relaxation products that existed in the market long before the COVID-19 pandemic are also seeing resurged interest, Orlofsky says. “This isn’t to say that new products with a pronounced message around relaxation, unwinding, or calming down haven’t also been hitting the market with an unprecedented rapidity; there have just been a lot of products experiencing a bit of a renaissance due to a surge of consumers recognizing that food and beverages may neutralize some of their emotional and mood fluctuations.” One example she provides is WellWell, which sells a vanilla cardamom product called Dream and claims to support more restful sleep.

Moving forward, Orlofsky expects the relaxation and sleep market to become more diversified. “We wouldn’t be surprised to see even more segmentation in this space, similar to what we’ve seen in the energy space—a shift from the global ‘energy’ to pre-workout energy, focused energy, digital energy, enhanced productivity, energy for gamers, etc.,” she says. “This is one way to offer slight differentiation without grossly alienating a consumer set.”

For relaxation and sleep products, she advises, “Instead of offering a product to help merely ‘relax,’ you can increasingly find products that target a more individualized need-state, whether that be calm, unwind, dream, Zen—or to take a moment, recess, or day trip.” A growing portfolio of efficacious ingredients combined with the right marketing (“storytelling,” she says) will convey these nuanced benefits to the consumer looking for customized support.

Orlofsky ticks off some of the potential categories that could prove lucrative. “Maybe the next generation of this space includes products for overworked and underappreciated parents, or will address the burnout commonly associated with the millennial generation, or even touch on the good stresses in life—buying a house, getting married, having a baby. I haven’t seen anything so specific like that yet, but that level of sophistication, with a unique ingredient blend, could have legs in this marketplace if executed thoughtfully.”

The food and beverage market will continue to be a prime target for companies selling both energy and sleep/relaxation. For instance, InnoBev’s Faraggi reports, “I know firsthand that there is a great deal of interest from food and beverage companies around the world, including those who have not yet entered the energy category.” InnoBev’s energizing WakeUp formula can be included in snack bars, ice cream and dairy, cereal, and beverages, in addition to dietary supplements. Faraggi adds, “I am seeing great interest coming from the dairy industry as it looks to continue to expand its offerings to consumers.”

For relaxation and sleep, food opportunities are also ripe, says Spoonshot’s Vasani. “Ingredients related to relaxation are moving from supplements to beverages and now foods. Many of these relaxation ingredients have been available in beverage format due to the ease of formulation, including herbal teas, infusions, juices, functional waters, and shots. More recently, we’ve seen launches like ice creams that are intended to help relax and sleep better, featuring magnesium.”

Beverages will likely remain the most popular. “Since beverages tend to be an easy medium for these ingredients, expect to see sleep or anti-energy drinks capturing consumer interest,” says Vasani. “These are not meant for people with medical conditions or chronic sleep disorders, just for those who could use some help relaxing before bedtime.”

For those interested in entering the food market, Faraggi reminds that science should be priority one, noting that “everyone in the industry knows scientifically proven functional food is one of the fastest-growing parts of the food industry.”

Consumers’ clean-label and good-for-you preferences will, of course, continue to apply in the food and drink space. In the energy market, the use of low-glycemic-index sweeteners will help replace the high-sugar formulas that have been so demonized on the energy drinks shelf. As Faraggi says, “it doesn’t make a lot of sense for energy drinks to be full of sugar, on one hand, and on the other to see so-called diet energy drinks that are really an energy drink without any real energy, just caffeine.” The BioLift drink contains a low-GI carob and apple extract sweetener.

Demand for energy support and relaxation support products won’t wane anytime soon, “since there doesn’t appear to be any definitive idea as to when things will go back to some semblance of normalcy,” says Vasani. Until then, companies can get a leg up on putting responsible, innovative products on shelf—and, in the process, potentially gain a whole new generation of customers.

Kassis O et al. “Double-blind placebo and active (caffeine) controlled study to examine the effects of the herbal nutritional supplement beverage ‘Wake Up’ on vigilance and function after lunch.” 

vol. 15, no. 8 (August 2013): 419-423. Accessed at: 

https://www.drinkwakeup.com/resource/files/Study1.pdf

Pillar G et al. “Longitudinal open label prospective study to assess the efficacy and tolerance of daily usage of the wake promoting beverage ‘WakeUp’ following lunch on vigilance and function of healthy volunteers.” Accessed at: 

https://www.drinkwakeup.com/resource/files/Tolerance%20study.pdf

Pillar G. “Open label prospective study to assess the efficacy of the wake promoting beverage ‘WakeUp’ on vigilance and function of healthy volunteers in the morning and in the evening.” Accessed at: 

https://www.drinkwakeup.com/resource/files/Wake%20up%20Morning%20and%20Evening%20effect.pdf

Increased stress and tiredness, especially over the past year, are sending consumers to supplement and food shelves to find support.

Energy and relaxation dietary supplements: Stress and fatigue drive consumers to supplement shelves

Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Society of Sports Nutrition(ISSN) Conference and Expo

, December 2020, demonstrates the anti-inflammatory role of Curcugen, a novel curcumin formulation from DolCas Biotech (Landing, NJ), following acute exercise. In the study, 24 subjects were randomized to receive either 500 mg of placebo or 500 mg of Curcugen. Prior to supplementation, they were asked to refrain from exercise for 72 hours, and nutritional supplements for more than two weeks. Subjects were assessed at baseline with the following tests: venipuncture, pressure-to-pain threshold (PPT) soreness assessment of the vastus lateralis (VL) and gastrocnemius (GC), knee ROM, and 3 trials of countermovement and squat jumps on a force plate.

Subjects were then given either the placebo or Curcugen, rested for 45 minutes, then completed an exercise protocol that consisted of 50 jumps over 50 cm hurdles and 50 drop jumps from a 50 cm plyometric box. Immediately post-exercise, then one hour, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours post-exercise, subjects were reassessed. Each group consumed 500 mg of their respective supplement two hours prior to the 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour time points. Blood was analyzed for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), protein carbonyls (PC) and myoglobin (MYO).

Results showed that the change in ROM from baseline was significantly greater at 72 hours for the curcumin group than the placebo group, change in PPT was significantly greater for the curcumin group at 48 hours and 72 hours compared to placebo, and there was no significant difference in jump performance between groups. Compared to placebo, the curcumin group also experience changes from baseline in hsCRP at one hour and 24 hours, as well as change in PC from baseline at 24 hours. There were no differences in MYO levels between groups.

Based on these results, the researchers concluded that Curcugen may provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic effects following acute exercise. “This is an interesting finding which warrants further investigation into the proper use of Curcugen for recovery after exercise," said Neil Schwarz, PhD, lead author of the study, in a press release.

“Curcumin is not entirely new to the sports health industry,” noted Shavon Jackson-Michel, ND, director of medical & scientific affairs for DolCas. “Curcumin most commonly appears in capsule and pill formulations. This could be due to its water-insoluble nature. While also applicable to conventional formats, like capsules and pills, Curcugen has been uniquely formulated with a self-dispersing mechanism that allows it to be easily integrated into powdered shakes and other functional applications, even at room temperature — perfect for on-the-go enjoyment.”

Based on these results, the researchers concluded that Curcugen from DolCas Biotech may provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic effects following acute exercise. 

Recent study demonstrates curcumin’s potential to support recovery post-exercise

 compared the effects of a bioavailable turmeric extract (BCM-95 from Arjuna Naturals; Dallas, TX) at a dose of 500 mg twice daily to 650 mg of paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) three times daily for six weeks. In the randomized, non-inferiority, controlled clinical trial, 144 subjects with knee osteoarthritis completed the study. Of those subjects, 71 randomly received the turmeric extract and 73 received paracetamol. The primary outcome of the study was the Western Ontario and Mc Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale measured at baseline and six weeks. Secondary outcomes were the WOMAC total, WOMAC stiffness, and WOMAC physical function scores. Serum CRP and TNF-alpha were also assessed.

Results showed that the effectiveness of the turmeric extract in reducing WOMAC scores was similar to that of paracetamol, but was better than paracetamol at reducing CRP and TNF-alpha levels. There were no significant differences in the change of WOMAC scores between the two groups, but the reduction in TNF-alpha was significantly greater in the turmeric group. The majority of patients in both groups saw a ≥ 20% reduction in WOMAC pain score and WOMAC pain and function/stiffness score (80% vs 77% and 61% vs 58% in the paracetamol and turmeric group, respectively). Additionally, 18% of the turmeric group saw a ≥ 50% improvement in WOMAC pain and function/stiffness score and 3% of patients saw a ≥ 70% improvement while none of the patients in the paracetamol group saw a ≥ 50% improvement.

"The goal of the current study was to build on the earlier studies to give a better clarity and specificity by including more markers and a better scoring methodology," said Benny Antony PhD, joint managing director for Arjuna, in a press release. "The anti-arthritic effect of BCM-95 in osteoarthritis is attributed to its capability to modulate anti-inflammatory markers TNF and CRP."

"We are learning more about the mechanisms behind curcumin's anti-inflammatory effect which we believe is a result of its ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory signals, such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and cyclooxygenase-2. In addition, curcumin has been demonstrated to suppress several pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators of their release, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1, IL-8, and nitric oxide synthase," adds Antony.

Singhal S et al. “Bioavailable turmeric extract for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, non-inferiority trial versus paracetamol.” 

A recent study compared the effects of a bioavailable turmeric extract (BCM-95 from Arjuna Naturals; Dallas, TX) at a dose of 500 mg twice daily to 650 mg of paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) three times daily for six weeks. 

New study finds that turmeric extract similarly effective to acetaminophen

Photo © iStockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages

 found that Beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), a metabolite of leucine, shows promise in supporting the body composition of older adults. HMB is used widely in sports nutrition applications for the support of muscle mass and strength as well as to support the muscle mass of older adults that may be dealing with sarcopenia, though that remains controversial. The meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the existing data to determine the efficacy of HMB on the body composition of older adults.

After pooling the results of nine studies, totaling 448 subjects, meta-analysis showed that HMB supplementation significantly increase fat-free mass in older adults compared to control groups, but had no effect on fat mass. The average age of study participants was 65. HMB doses ranged between 1.5 grams per day to 3 grams per day for no fewer than four weeks. Sometimes a combination of substrates were used, including various combinations of L-arginine, L-glutamine, lysine, ascorbic acid and a carbohydrate.

Four of the nine studies included an exercise intervention. In sub-group analysis, HMB supplementation alone saw significant improvements in fat-free mass in older adults, but the addition of exercise to HMB supplementation showed no additional fat-free mass change.

“The results of the meta-analysis showed that oral HMB supplementation could effectively increase muscle mass, but the change in fat mass was not significant,” the researchers determine. “The increase in muscle mass is due to the net positive balance of protein renewal in the skeletal muscle caused by HMB through stimulation of protein synthesis and attenuation of protein degradation,” they go on to explain. When it comes to pairing supplementation with exercise, the researchers also state that exercise programs need to be designed according to the different physical health needs of older people.

“This review is timely given the growing healthy aging market segment,” said Larry Kolb, president of TSI Group, in a press release. TSI Group manufactures an HMB ingredient called myHMB. “There is a very strong need among consumers and healthcare practitioners for more information on maintaining muscle mass and function in healthy older adults,” he adds.

Lin Z et al. “Effects of oral administration of β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate on lean body mass in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” 

A recent meta-analysis found that Beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), a metabolite of leucine, shows promise in supporting the body composition of older adults. 

Meta-analysis finds that HMB supplementation supports healthy muscle mass in older adults

Aditi Pawar is executive, scientific business development (nutrition), at VAV Lipids (Mumbai, India), an innovation-driven company specializing in cGMP-grade manufacturing of lecithin and phospholipids for nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical applications. For more information, please visit: 

Vrushali Patil is marketing manager at VAV Lipids (Mumbai, India), an innovation-driven company specializing in cGMP-grade manufacturing of lecithin and phospholipids for nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical applications. For more information, please visit: 

Bioactives and nutraceuticals have become an integral part of our lives. If there’s one positive to come from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an increased awareness about general health and well-being. To boost immunity and fill nutritional gaps in the diet, the nutraceuticals market has been flooded with supplements like vitamin C, glutathione, zinc, and curcumin. But do we know whether or not these high-value supplements are actually delivering therapeutic benefits?

No doubt, supplements like vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, and calcium are essential for regular metabolism. When we take these as supplements in conventional forms, however, they can be either poorly soluble or poorly permeable, or can get damaged by oxidation or peroxidation—all in all reducing their bioavailability in the body.

 Often, increased supplement dosages are suggested to improve bioavailability, but this also poses the risk of associated side effects.

Liposomal delivery systems have been used to change the pharmacokinetic profiles of herbs, vitamins, enzymes, and even drugs to improve overall therapeutics.

Phospholipids are the main components of liposomes and have the ability to self-assemble to generate different supramolecular structures like liposomes, micelles, etc.

 Due to phospholipids’ amphiphilic nature, both water-soluble and fat-soluble actives can be loaded easily into phospholipid matrices.

Liposomes are nanoparticles or nanocarriers, usually 100-300 nm in diameter. They are formed spontaneously when certain phospholipids are hydrated with water.

 Liposomes are microscopic lipid vesicles.

 These mimic the human cell membrane. Because of their unique properties, liposomes are able to enhance the performance of products by increasing solubility and improving bioavailability and stability of active ingredients.

During first-pass metabolism, typically there is a reduction or slowdown in nutrient bioavailability due to the presence of digestive enzymes, acidic pH of the stomach, and bile salts.

Once active ingredients are loaded onto a liposome, however, they can easily pass through first-pass metabolism. Liposomes enable drugs and/or nutrients to navigate the lymphatic pathway, bypassing the hepatic first-pass effect.

 They not only protect the bioactive but also prevent any nutritional loss, help incorporate any pulsatile or time-release mechanisms in the formulation, and mask and preserve the actives as well.

Once the liposomes reach the small intestine intact, they adhere to the cells of the small intestine. The small intestine cell wall is rich in phospholipids as well. The two main pathways that are suggested to enhance oral drug delivery by liposomes are via drug release in the gastrointestinal lumen or via transformation of vesicles into mixed micelles, and subsequent permeation of drug molecules across the intestinal epithelia.

Since the liposomes mimic the cell membrane, there is no metabolic load on the liver. Higher nutrient doses are not required because of efficient and accurate delivery by the liposomes.

What Are Manufacturing Techniques for Liposomes?

The quality of liposomes significantly depends on the manufacturing technique. To develop stable liposomes with high encapsulation efficiency, methods like ethanol injection, thin-film hydration, reverse-phase evaporation, and more-modern methods such as microfluidics can beused to scale up industrially. These methods ensure higher encapsulation efficiency and effective drug loading and help to form smaller and uniform-size vesicles, resulting in increased permeation and bioavailability compared to standalone micronutrients.

In all, liposomes can be a promising delivery system because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity in the human body

 and should be adopted more often to meet the real needs of today’s nutrition industry.

Aditi Pawar, executive, scientific business development (nutrition), and Vrushali Patil, marketing manager, represent VAV Lipids (Mumbai, India), an innovation-driven company specializing in cGMP-grade manufacturing of lecithin and phospholipids for nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical applications. For more information, please visit: 

Caritá AC et al. “Vitamin C: One compound, several uses. Advances for delivery, efficiency and stability.” 

Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine.

Lee M et al. “Liposomes for enhanced bioavailability of water-insoluble drugs: 

Kidd P. “Phospholipids: Versatile nutraceuticals for functional foods.” 

Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods

Li J et al. “A review on phospholipids and their main applications in drug delivery systems.”

 Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Ahn H et al. “Liposomal delivery systems for intestinal lymphatic drug transport.”

Haisheng He et al. “Adapting liposomes for oral drug delivery.” 

Keller BC. “Liposomes in nutrition.” 

Wei Wu et al. “Oral delivery of liposomes.” 

Delivery, vol. 6, no. 11 (2015): 1239-1241. 

Liposomes and nutraceuticals: Crushing bioavailability barriers

An estimated 70% of Americans take dietary supplements every day, and the scientific community is increasingly supporting their decision to do so. In a 2020 report, the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee acknowledged that dietary supplements can play a role in curbing nutrient deficiencies in subgroups of the population, such as children and pregnant women, stating that “…without dietary supplements, nutrient goals are difficult to achieve.”

Given the mass popularity of and increasing support for dietary supplements, legislative efforts are being proposed to expand consumer access to these products in the U.S. At the same time, other initiatives threaten to restrict those who can buy them.

With so much at stake, dietary supplement manufacturers and advocates should be apprised on what’s taking place at national and state levels and make their voices heard.

In the past year, members of Congress have made multiple attempts to 

 to dietary supplements, though those attempts lack specificity and universal appeal in Congress.

In 2020, Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced a bill to allow certain dietary supplements to be covered through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), yet the bill received no action beyond its introduction. An amendment with similar language was introduced by Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tim Scott (R-SC) for the Senate’s budget resolution in February 2021, but it failed to make it into the final language of the resolution despite receiving bipartisan support. Weeks later, Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Scott reintroduced the Healthcare Savings Act, previously introduced in 2017, for similar purpose.

Despite these recent shortcomings, the legislative fight is not over, and the House is likely to introduce its own version of such legislation later this year.

Most dietary supplements aren’t covered by healthcare insurers. If dietary supplements do become covered by HSAs and FSAs in the future, it would affect an estimated 22 million Americans who already have HSAs and FSAs and would represent a significant economic cost. Insurers would ultimately decide what types of dietary supplement would qualify for use of tax-deferred funds. Vitamins and minerals would likely be covered, but the fate of other ingredients such as botanicals (many of which are backed by extensive health research) is uncertain. The Natural Products Association (NPA; Washington, DC) supports these legislative efforts and says it would also like to see dietary supplement coverage under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs.

Compared to national efforts, attempts to legislate dietary supplements at the state level are very different. There are recent and ongoing attempts to restrict the sale of weight-loss and muscle-building dietary supplements in several U.S. states, including California, New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois. The restrictions range from placing these products under lock and key in retail stores, instituting 18+ age requirements for purchases, and imposing significant fines for retailers that fail to comply with new rules. Most recently, this week California's Assembly Health Committee voted yes on the state's own related legislation, 

, which would restrict access to weight-loss and dietary supplements while imposing fines for their illegal sale greater than those of illegal sale of alcohol or tobacco. The bill is now headed to the state's Assembly Judiciary Committee.

NPA’s CEO and president Dan Fabricant, PhD, says that chief among industry concerns with this type of legislation is its lack of specificity. It’s generally unclear which ingredients and products would be classified as weight-loss or muscle-building products. Some ingredients commonly used in muscle-building products, such as milk powder and vitamin D, could theoretically be restricted under such laws despite their good safety profile and countless other nutritional uses.

Dietary supplement manufacturers and other interested parties are urged to contact their members of Congress and state assembly in order to have their voices heard, whether in support of or against legislation. For further reading on federal and state campaigns and information on how to take action, 

 is an extensive educational resource with action campaigns and weekly news updates.

USDA, “Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee,” 

National and state efforts could expand or restrict access to a number of dietary supplement products. 

Out of reach? Will the public get greater or less access to dietary supplements?

Imbibe (Niles, IL) launched Ingredients by Imbibe, a new platform that offers the company’s ingredients to external R&D teams, including The Senses, a suite of taste solutions that address common product attribute complaints through flavor modulation, masking, and mouthfeel optimization, and Pre/Sense Stevia. Previously, access to these ingredients was limited to Imbibe developed products, but its client partners saw the utility of these ingredients outside Imbibe-developed product lines.

“Our primary focus is on creating a great product for our client partners, so our R&D team handles thousands of ingredients every year to find the best ingredient solutions. Often, existing solutions don’t perform to our expectations, so we develop our own. Ingredients by Imbibe is a product of this work,” Andy Dratt, chief commercial officer, said in a press release. “Unlike some food products, there’s not much you can hide behind in a beverage and we couldn’t find taste and sweetener solutions that fulfilled all of our needs. We addressed these challenges by creating our own ingredients that we have been incorporating into products for years. They have been key to successfully overcoming a wide range of formulation challenges.”

Offering access to this subset of Imbibe’s ingredient toolbox is an opportunity to expand Imbibe’s business model while supporting great brands and R&D teams who develop products on their own.

Imbibe launched Ingredients by Imbibe, a new platform that offers the company’s ingredients to external R&D teams, including The Senses, a suite of taste solutions that address common product attribute complaints through flavor modulation, masking, and mouthfeel optimization, and Pre/Sense Stevia.

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